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+1 646-241-8602
Manhattan, New York City, Westchester, Long Island and beyond
+1 646-241-8602
Before a judge decides custody or support, the law decides which judge gets to decide. Filing in the wrong court or the wrong state can cost months. Collins Law Group, PLLC is a Family Court Jurisdiction Lawyer Manhattan that helps you start in the right place, with direct attorney attention and a free consultation.
Tell us what you are facing. Aoife Collins reviews every inquiry personally.
Jurisdiction determines where your case is heard, which court handles it, and which state has authority to rule when parents live in different states.
A case started in the wrong place can be dismissed or moved. Worse, it can leave you defending your rights far from home. Collins Law Group, PLLC is a Family Court Jurisdiction Lawyer Manhattan for parents and spouses whose cases cross courts, counties or state lines.
Founder Aoife Collins brings 20 years of matrimonial experience, more than 1,000 resolved matters and a Federal Clerkship background. Whether you need a Manhattan Family Court lawyer to file a petition or someone to answer a case your spouse started in another state, your matter stays with her from the first call. Your first consultation is free and confidential.
Family court jurisdiction disputes in Manhattan take many forms, from a simple question of where to file to a contest between two states. Here is what our representation covers.
We confirm which court can hear your matter, so your case starts where it can actually be decided.
We identify the right county and courthouse based on where you and your children live.
We determine which state has authority over custody when parents live in different states.
We register, enforce or seek to modify another state's custody order in New York when the law allows.
We establish, enforce or contest support orders when a parent lives outside New York.
We act quickly when a child in New York needs protection and the regular home-state rules would cause delay.
We contest a court's authority, or ask a court to step aside for a more convenient forum.
We respond when your spouse starts a case elsewhere and protect your position in New York.
Jurisdiction questions are decided early, and early mistakes are hard to undo. As a New York family court jurisdiction attorney, Collins Law Group focuses on getting those first decisions right, so the rest of your case rests on solid ground.
Seasoned judgment on how cases move between courts, counties and states.
Practical knowledge of the uniform laws that decide interstate custody and support cases.
Aoife Collins handles your case personally, from the first filing decision to the final order.
Learn where your case belongs and what to do next before you commit to anything.
The first question in any family case is “where?” As your family law jurisdiction lawyer Manhattan, we answer it with a clear, four-step plan.
We learn where you, your spouse and your children live now and have lived, and what is already on file anywhere.
We identify the right court, county and state, and flag any deadline or competing case that could change the answer.
We file in the correct court, answer a case started elsewhere, or contest a court's authority when it is wrong.
Once the right court is settled, we press on with the custody, support or divorce issues that brought you here.
Jurisdiction questions usually come up at the worst moment: right after papers arrive or right before a move. Below are the ones clients ask most. If yours is not here, call (646) 241-8602.
No. Only the Supreme Court can grant a divorce in New York. Family Court cannot end a marriage. Once a divorce is filed, the Supreme Court can also decide custody, support and property as part of that case.
Family Court hears custody and visitation, child support, spousal support outside a divorce, paternity, family offense petitions, guardianship, adoption and child protective cases. For families who are not divorcing, it is often the main court for these issues.
Usually the child’s “home state” under the UCCJEA, a uniform law New York follows. That is generally the state where the child lived with a parent for at least six consecutive months right before the case began. Other rules can apply to infants, emergencies and existing orders, so the specific facts matter.
Do not ignore the papers; response deadlines can be short. Filing first does not automatically decide which state keeps the case. Depending on where your child has lived, you may be able to contest that court’s authority or ask it to defer to New York.
New York lets you seek protection in Family Court, criminal court or both. The two paths differ in purpose, procedure and possible outcomes, so the right choice depends on your goals and your safety. Learn more on our Domestic Violence page.
Yes. Collins Law Group offers a free, confidential consultation for jurisdiction and other family law questions. Call (646) 241-8602 or request one online. Aoife Collins reviews your facts, identifies the right court, and explains your options with no obligation.
The right court is the foundation for everything that follows in your case. Work with a Family Court Jurisdiction Lawyer Manhattan who handles your matter personally from day one. Schedule your free, confidential consultation with Collins Law Group